Dispensing apparatus for liquids.



No. 7l0,29l. Patented Sept. 30, l902.

S. W. MORAN.

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR LIDUID-S.

(Application filed Feb. 13, 1902.) (No Model.) v 2 Shees-Sheet 2W//TNESSES /Nl/EN TOP? fidw m UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN XV. MORAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOSAMUEL HELLEN, OF WAKEFIELD, MASSAGHUSETTS.

DISPENSIN-G APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS.

SPECIFCATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 7103291, dated September30, 1902. Application filed February 13, 1902. Seria] No. 93,927. (Nomodel.)

TO (LZZ uhmn it nuy conccrn:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN XV. MORAN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts,have'invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Dispensing Apparatus for Liquids, of which thefollowing' is a specification. V

This invention relates to improvements in devices to force liquids-suchas beer, ale,

Io porter, cider, and like beverages--from a receptacle or receptaclesto deliveryfaucets located above said receptacles, where it may be drawnunder pressure due to the pressure cxerted thereon in forcing it to suchfaucets.

It relates more particularly to dispensing apparatus used in bar-rooms,in which the receptacles containing the liquids are kept in the cellarand said liquids are forced up from said receptacles to the bar-roomabove zo by pneumatic pressure applied to the top of the liquids in saidreceptacles.

The invention has for its objects to provide novel means whereby theliquid may be preveni'ed from remaining in the deliVery-pipe leadingfrom said receptacle to the dischargefaucet while the apparatus isnot'in use-as, for instance, while the bar-room is closedand stillmaintain a pneumatic pressure upon the liquid in the receptacles equalto that required normally to force said liquid to the discharge-faucet;to be able to employ a liquid-returning device which shall be common todischarge-faucets for several different kinds of liquids and be able toreturn to any one of said liquids to its receptacle independent of theothers and whereby the liability of having the several kinds of liquidsbecoming accidentally mixed will be obviated, and to otherwise simplifyand improve devices of this kind, as will be fully describedhei-einafter.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements, andcombinatio'ns of parts, as will be fully described and set forth in thisspecification and the claims hereunto annexed. v i

The invention is carried out substantially as illustrated on` theaccompanying drawiugs, which form an essential part of thisspecification and whereon like characters of reference refer to likeparts on the different parts of the drawings.

On the drawings, Figure l represents a dispensing apparatus embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a detail sectional View longitudinallythrough the supplemental airpipe, showing the fitting which I prefer touse in forming the connection between the supplemental air-pipe and thedischarge-pipe near the discharge-faucet. Fig. 3 represents a verticalcross-section on the line A Bin Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. l, l and 2 represent receptacles within which twodifferent kinds of liquids are placed, and 3 represents a source ofpneumatic pressure, which may consist of a hand-pump, anautomaticallyoperated pump, or any 'other of the common and wellknownmeans used in dispensing apparatus, but which, as shown on thedrawings,` consists of atank of compressed air or compressed 7ocarbonic-acid gas 'compressed to a Very high pressure and having a valve4, controlling the outletof said tank. To the outlet of this tank 3 isSecured a pressure-regulating valve 5 of any suitable Construction. Amain pressure-pipe 6 leads from the source of pneumatic pressure towardthe receptacles l and 2 and is connected to the highest portions of saidreceptacles, so that pneumatic pressure may be applied above the liquidtherein through the main pressure-pipe and branch pipes 7 and 8, saidbranch pipes being provided with the respective stop-cocks 10 and ll, sothat the pressure from the pressure-tank 3 may be admitted to either ofthe receptacles through said branch pipes or shut ofij' from either ofsaid receptacles, as desired.

One or more discharge-pipes 12, 13, and M may be attached in any commonand wellknown manner to the lower portions of the 0 receptacles l and 2,substantially as shown, each receptacle being supplied with a suitablestop-cock 15, controlling communication between said receptacle and itsconnected discharge-pipe,which discharge-pipes convey the liquids fromthe receptacles to the respective discharge-faucets 16, 17, and 18 underpressure due to the pressure in the main pressure-pipe 6, admitted tothe top of said receptacle above the liquid therein, and where saidliquid may be drawn, as desired.

Thus far I have described the common and well-known manner of raisingliquids froni a receptacle or receptacles to discharge-faucets placed ina position above the receptacles containing the liquids, so as to beable to draw said liquids from said faucets under pressure, and I do notwish to confine myself to any particular mechanism used to accomplishthis result.

In apparatus of this kind when used in dispensing beverages-such asbeer, ale, cider, or other like liquids-it is desirable that the liquidsshould be prevented from remaining in the discharge-pipes when they arenot required to be drawn for any length of time, but should be returnedto the receptacle containing the body of the liquid. ,It is alsodesirable that the liquid in returning to the receptacle should bereturned without creating motion within the liquid in the receptacle,thus preventing the stirring up of the sediment from the bottom of saidreceptacle. It is one of the principal objects of my inven- 'tion toprovide means Whereby the liquids which have been forced up from thereceptacle into the discharge-pipes by the pressure due to the pneumaticpressure in the main pressure-pipe Will be allowed gradually to returnto said receptacle by the action of gravity and will remain at a levelwith the liqnid in said receptacle. This I accomplish by the use of thefollowing-described mechanisnz'A supplemental pressure-pipe 19 isattached to and is in open communication with the main pressure-pipe 6.The opposite end of this supplemental pipe is connected to any one or toall of the dischargepipes near their discharge-faucets, substantially asshown. As this supplemental pipe is in open communication With the mainpressure-pipe, it Will be seen that a pressure equal to thatin the mainpressure-pipe will be maintained at all times within the supplementalpressure-pipe and that this pressure in the supplemental pipe if allowedfree access to the discharge-pipes at its connections thereto wouldequalize the pressure on both sides of the liquids and prevent them frombeing forced to the discharge-faucets.

In order to control the communication between the supplementalpressure-pipe and each discharge-pipe, I introduce a stop-cock 20 withinthe connections between the supplemental pressure-pipe and eachdischargepipe, which stop-cocks when closed prevent the pressure fromthe supplenientalpressurepipe from entering the discharge-pipes and willallow the pressure from the main pressure-pipe to force the liquid inthe receptacle connected thereto to its discharge faucet or faucets. Bythe use of an independent stopcock in each connection between theSuppleinental pressu re-pipe and each discharge-pipe it will be seenthat the liquid in each discharge-pipe may be returned to its connectedreceptacle or be allowed to be forced to its discharge-faucetindependent of that in the other discharge-pipes connected to saidsupplemental pipe. Therefore the liquid in each and every discharge-pipeis controlled by the manipulation of its independent stop-cock 20.

In order to prevent the air in the Supplemental pipe from leakingthrough the stopcock 20 and accumulating on top of the liquids in thedischarge-pipes,` thus preventing the proper drawing of liquid from thesaid discharge-pipe through its discharge-faucet, it is essential thatsaid stop-cock should be preferably air-tight, and in order to preventthe liquids from coming into contact with said stop-cock, andconsequently obviate the liahility of having small particles of hops orother solids or gums contained within said liquid from lodging upon orfouling said stopcock, I prefer to locate the su pplementalpressure-pipe above its connection with the discharge-pipes,substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus leaving a vertical passageor chamber 21 between the discharge-pipe and the stop-cock 20, withinwhich a small quantity of air is penned, which air will be compressed bythe pressure of the liquid in the discharge-pipe when the stop-cock isclosed. This small quantity of compressed air will lie in contact withthe stop-cock 20 and will form a layer of air protecting said stop-cock,preventing the liquid from coming into contact with the stop-cock, andtherefore preventing the fouling of said stop-cock by gum or particlesof solid matter carried by the liquid in the discharge-pipe.

From the above description of my device it Will be seen that there issubstantially equal pressure on both sides of the stop-cock 20, thatonthe side toward the discharge-pipe being slightly less than that on theside toward the supplemental pressure-pipe, due to the weight of thecolumn of liquid within the discharge-pipe. On account of thisequalization of pressure on the opposite sides of the stop-cock it willbe seen that there will be no tendency for the liquids from the severaldischarge-pipes to leak through their stop-cocks 20 and by entering theSupplement-al pipe cause a mixture of the several liquids within thesupplemental pipe, which mixture would be forced to the first receptacleinto which the liquid from its discharge-pipe was returned by openingone of the stop-cocks controlling communication between the supplementalpipe and that particular discharge pipe. This mixture of the severalliquids in entering the receptaclecontaining any one of said liquidswould destroy the integrity of said liquid. By my Construction of thedevice it will be seen that it is impossible for the liquid to leave thedischarge-pipe through the stop-cock 20, separating said discharge-pipefrom the supplenental pressure-pipe, as any iOO IIO

'reduction of the pressure in the latter pipe will cause a similarreduction of pressure in the former pipe, and vice versa. Therefore thedischarge-pipes from receptacles controlling several kinds of liquidsmaybe connected to one and the same supplemental pressure-pipe and eachkind of liquid be kept pure and by itself irrespective of the otherliquids.

For convenience of manufacture I prefer to form the connection betweenthe supplemental pressure-pipe and each discharge-pipe substantially asshown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein an integral casing 22 isintroduced between the supplemental pressure-pipe and thedischarge-pipe, which casing has a tubular portion 23, connected bysuitable unions or couplings 2& and 25 to sections of the supplementalpressure-pipe, this tub ular portion in itself therebyforning a portionof the supplemental pressure-pipe. The casing 22 has a second tubularportion 26, which is connected by a suitable coupling or union 9 to thedischarge-pipe and has the dischargefaucet attached to the opposite endof said tubular portion. Thus the tubular portion 26 of the casing 22forms in itself a portion of the discharge-pipe. A duct 27 within thecasing 22 forms a connecting-passage between the tubular portion 23 andthe tubular portion 26, the communication through this duct beingcontrolled by the stop-cock 20. The portion of the duct or passage 27which contains the controlling stop-cock 20 is greatly reduced in size,and said portion also contains the vertical air-chamber 21, by which theliquid is prevented from coming into contact with said stop-cock. Thusthe passage or duct 27 has two portions, which are substantially atright angles to each other. By this Construction of the connectionsbetween the supplemental pressure-pipe and the discharge-pipes Iam ablevery quicklyand easily to apply my improved device to the majority ofthe existing dispensing apparatus, as I have only to unscrew thecoupling which connects the discharge-faucet to the dischargepipe andinterpose the tubular portion 26 of the casing 22 between said faucetand discharge-pipe, which may then be connected to the casing 22, asshown.

In order that the liquid shall nove quite slowly when returning to thereceptacle from the discharge-pipes, I provide the stop-cock with a verysmall perforation 28, through which the air is drawn from thesupplemental pipe by the weight of the column of liquid in thedischarge-pipe when the stop-cock is opened. This cramping of the flowof air through the stop-cock exerts a retarding influence upon thedownward movement of the liquid in the discharge-pipe, which retardinginfluence may be varied by varying the size of the perforation 28. Itwill thus be seen that I am able to return the liquid to a receptaclewithout any perceptible motion being imparted thereby to the liquid insaid receptacle.

It is desirable in many cases to be able to readily cleanse thedischarge-pipe from any sediments or accumulations adhering thereto, andin order to accomplish this desired result I prefer to construct mydevice substantially as follows: The casing 22 is provided with a branchduct 29, which is in open communication with the duct 27 between thestopcock 20 and the discharge-pipe. The end of this duct 29 is normallycovered by means of a screw-cap 30.

When it is desired to cleanse the dischargepipe, said pipe isdisconnected from its receptacle, the discharge-faucet attached to saidpipe is closed, as is also the stop-cock 20. The screw-cap 30 is thenremoved and a common hand-hose 31 (shown by broken lines in Figs. 1 and2) is then attached in the place of said screw-Gap. Water understreetpressure is then admitted through the handhose and fiows throughthe ducts 29 and 27, the tubular portion 23 of the casing 22, andthrough the discharge-pipe, carrying With it any sediment oraccumulations which may rest within or adhere to the inside of thedischarge-pipe. If it is inconvenient to obtain water under pressure toflow through the hand-hose, I may attach a short piece of handhose 31 tothe casing 22, as above described, and place the opposite end of saidhose within a pail or other vessel 32 (shownby broken lines in Fig.1)'and containing a quantity of water and after adjusting said parts inproper position may open the stop-cock 20, which will cause a current ofair to be forced through the duct 27 and discharge-pipe, which currentof air will create a suction and will draw the water from the pail orother vessel through the piece of hand-hose and into the duct 27, whereit will mingle with the current of air passing through said duct anddischarge-pipe and be forced through the discharge-pipe, carrying withit any dirt or accumulations remaining in the discharge-pipe. In orderto obtain a su'fficient body of air in the current of air thus forcedthrough the duct 27 from the supplemental pipe, I may provide thestop-cock with a second perforation 33, which may be brought to form anenlarged passage through said stop-cock, and thus increase the power ofsaid current of air in raising the water from the pail or other vessel.By this latter means of cleansing the discharge-pipe I am able to use asolution of sal-soda or other cleansiug preparation in the place of purewater and finally rinse the discharge-pipe with pure water. If sodesired, a suitable injector-nozzle 34 (shown by broken lines in Fig. 2)may be inserted within the ducts 29 and 27 in order to assist thecurrent of air passing through the duct 27 in raising the water from thepail or other vessel. The branch duct 29, screw-cap 30, hand-hose 31,injector-nozzle 34, and perforation 33 in the IOO IIO

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stop-cock 20 may be dispensed with, if so der By forcing the waterthrough the dischargepipe in cleansing said pipe and forcing it in adirection opposite to the direction of the flow of the liquid throughsaid pipe when drawing lquid under pressure from the receptacles 1 and 2it will be seen that any particles which may be caught upon projectionsin said pipe will be moved in the opposite direction and dislodged fromtheir restin g place. Thus the cleansing of the pipes will be more easyand more complete than when the cleansing is accomplished by a fiow ofwater or other liquid in the same direction as that of the liquiddischarged from the receptacle through the discharge-pipe.

It is usual in dispensing apparatus used in bar-rooms to have thedischarge-pipe lead from the receptacle in the cellar oother stor- -ageplace for beverages to some place within the bar-room concealed fromview-as, for instance, under the top of the bar-and to have the attacheddischarge-faucet project through the means of Concealment into aconvenient position to draw liquids therefrom. In Fig. 3 of the drawingsI have shown in detail this arrangement of the discharge-pipe below thetop 35 of the bar and the discharge-faucet projecting through the backboard 36, which forms a support for the back edge of the top of the bar.For convenience in Operating the stop-cock 20, which controls theconnection ,between the supplemental pressure-pipe and thedischarge-pipe, I provide said stop-cock with an operating-handl'e 37 ofany desired shape, which I locate outside the back board 36 of the barand preferably to one side of the discharge-faucet. This handle Iconnect to the stop-cock by means of a spindle 38, which passes througha hearing in the back board and which preferably enters the socket 'orrecess 39 in the stop-cock, said spindle being of such a shape that itcannot turn within said socket, but which will operate the stop-cockwhen the handle is rotated. By having the spindle enter a socket in thestopcock and having a part of the length of the portion projectinginside of the back', board of the same cross-section as that of thesocket in the stop-cock I am able to cut sufificient off the innerprojecting portion to make it the proper length to adjust the handle tothe back board, and thus compensate for different positions which thesupplemental pressure-pipe nay occnpy in relation to the back board.

Having thus fully described the nature, i

Construction, and operation of this my invention, I wish to secure byLetters Patent and claim- 1. In a dispensing apparatus for liqnids, areceptacle containing the liquid, a source of pneumatic pressure, a mainpressure-pipe' from said source of pressure communicating with saidreceptacle above the liquid therein, a discharge-pipe from saidreceptacle, a discharge-faucet on said discharge-pipe, a supplementalpressure-pipe under uniform pressure with that in the mainpressure-pipe, said supplemental pressure-pipe located in part above thedischarge-pipe near the discharge-faucet thereonand connected to thedischarge-pipe at that place from above said discharge-pipe, and astop-cock above the discharge-pipe and within the -supplemental pipenear its connection with the dischargepipe, whereby the liquid in thedischargepipe may be allowed to return by gravity to said receptacle bythe Operating of said stopcock andthe liquid be prevented from leakinginto the supplemental pressure-pipe from the discharge-pipe.

2. In a dispensing apparatus for liquids, a receptacle containing theliquid, a source of pneumatic pressure, a main pressure-pipe from saidsource of pressure conmunicating with said receptacle above the liquidtherein, a discharge-pipe from said receptacle, a discharge-faucet onsaid discharge-pipe, a supplenental pressure-pipe under uniforn pressureat all times with that in the main pressure-pipe said supplementalpressure-pipe located'in part above the discharge-pipe nearcally-arranged passage between said stopcock and discharge-pipe, wherebythe liquid in the discharge-pipe may be. allowed to return by gravityalone to the receptacle by opening said stop-cock and whereby a cushionof air will remain within' said verticallyarranged passage and preventthe liquid from the discharge-pipe from connecting with said stop-cockwhen the stop-cock is closed.

3. In a dispensing apparatus for liquids, a receptacle containing theliquid, a source of pneumatic pressure, a main pressurepipe from saidsource of pressure communicating with said receptacle above the liquidtherein, a discharge-pipe from said receptacle, a discharge-faucet onsaid discharge-pipe, a supplemental pipe under uniform pressure at alltimes withthatin the main pressure-pipe and connected to thedischarge-pipe near the discharge-faucet thereon, and a stop-cock havinga contracted passage through it when opened located within thesupplemental pressure-pipe near its connection with the discharge-pipe,whereby the liquid in the discharge-pipe may be allowed to return bygravity alone to said receptacle when said stop-cock is opened and itsreturning movement be retarded as desired by the contracted passagethrough said stop-cock.

4:. In a dispensing apparatus for liquids, a plurality of receptacleseach containing liquid, a source of pneumatic pressure, a mainpressure-pipe from said source of pressure communicating with each ofsaid receptacles above the liquid therein, discharge pipes fromreceptacles, a discharge-faucet on each discharge-pipe, a supplementalpressure-pipe IOO IIO

under uniform pressure with that in the main pressure-pipe connected toeach dischargepipe near the discharge-faucet thereon from above thehighest part of said discharge-pi pe, and a stop-cock in each connectionbetween the supplemental pressure-pipe, and the discharge-pipes, wherebythe liquid in each of the discharge-pipes nay be allowed to return bygravity alone to its respective receptacle, independent of the liquidsin the other discharge-pipes when its respective stop-cock is opened.

5. In a dispensing apparatus for liquids of the class described having areceptacle for liquid, a discharge-pipe therefrom withdischarge-faucetthereon, a source of pneumatic pressure, a mainpressure-pipe connected to said receptacle, and asupplemental pressurepipe leading to the discharge-pipe near the discharge-faucet thereon;an integral casing having a tubular portion with couplings thereon toform a portion of the supplemental pressure-pipe, a tubular portion withcouplings thereon to form a portion of the discharge-pipe, a ductthrough said casing connecting both of said tubular portions, and astop-cock within said duct controlling said duet, said casing forming aconnection between said supplemental pressure-pipe and thedischarge-pipe near the discharge-faucet thereon and said stop-cockallowing the liquid in the discharge-pipe of the apparatus to return bygravity to its receptacle when said stop-cock is opened.

(3. In a dispensing apparatns for liquids of the class described havinga receptacle for liquid, a discharge pipe therefrom withdischarge-faucet thereon, a source of pneumatic pressure, a mainpressure-pipe connected to said receptacle, and a supplementalpressurepipe leading to the discharge-pipe near the discharge-faucetthereon; an integral casing having a tubular portion with couplingsthereon to form a portion of the supplenental pressure-pipe, a tubularportion with couplings thereon to form a portion of the discharge-pipe,a duct through said casing connecting both of said tubular portions, astopcock in said duct controlling said duct, a second duet in saidcasing, communicating with the first duct between the stop-cock and thetubular portion of the casing which forms a portion of thedischarge-pipe, and a removable cap covering the entrance to said secondduct and allowing the attachment of a handhose to said second duct, saidcasing forming a connection between said supplemental pressure-pipe andthe discharge -pipe near the discharge-faucet thereon, said stop-cockallowing the liquid in the discharge-pipe of the apparatus to return bygravity to its receptacle when said stop-cock is opened, and said secondduct in the casing afiording means for cleansin g the discharge-pipe ofthe apparatus.

7. In adispensing apparatus for liquids, a receptacle for liqnid, adischarge-pipe from said receptacle, a discharge-fancet on saiddischarge-pipe, means to force the liquid from said receptacle to saiddischarge-faucet, an entrance to said discharge-pipe near saiddischarge-faucet, a removable cap covering said entrance, means toattach a hose to said entrance, through which liquid may be admitted tosaid discharge-pipe to cleanse said pipe, a pressure-pipe communicatingwith the p`assage between said entrance and the dischargepipe, and astop-cock controlling the admission of pressure from the pressure-pipeto said passage to be used inforcing the liquid from the hose throughthe discharge-pipe to cleanse said pipe.

S. ln a dispensing apparatus for liquids, a receptacle for liquid, adischarge-pipe from said receptacle, a discharge-faucet on saiddischarge-pipe, means to force the liquid from said receptacle to saiddischarge-faucet, an entrance to said discharge-pipe near saiddischarge-faucet, a renovable cap covering said entrance, means toattach a hose to said entrance, through which liquid may be admitted tosaid discharge-pipe to cleanse said pipe, a pressure-pipe communicatingwith the passage between said entrance and the dischargepipe, astop-cock controlling the admission of pressure from the pressure-pipeto said passage, and an injector-nozzle introduced into said passagefrom said entrance to cause liqquid to be drawn through said hose andforced through the discharge-pipe to cleanse said discharge-pipe.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

STEPHEN W. MORAN.

Witnesses:

HENRY CHADBOURN, CORA .I. CHADBOURN.

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